Indicator for cooling systems



Dx. 11, 1921s.- 1,694,906

J. w. ANDERSON INDIQATR FOR COOLING SYSTEMS Filed March 28,` 1927 Joh/z Mde/75m Patented Dec. l1, 1928..

UNITED lSTATES JOHN W. ANDERSON, or GARY, INDIANA.

INDICATOR FOR COOLING SYSTEMS.

Application filed March 28, 1927. Serial No. 178,992.

My invention relates broadly to indicating devices and particularly to indicating devices of the type shown and described in my copending application, Serial No. 111,345 filedl May 24, 1926.

Particular objects of my invention are to provide an improv-ed device of the kind described for indicating the conditions obtaining within the cooling system of an internal combustion engine; to provide an improved device of the kind described adapted to be mounted upon the filling tube of an automobile radiator and constructed so that it may be quickly and easily detached therefrom; to provide an improved device of the kind described which cooperates with the overflow tube of the radiator and is sol constructed that it may be connected thereto with very little effort; to provide afdevice of the kind described which is relatively simple in construction and is so formed that it tends to prevent the waste of cooling liquid through the overflow tube, and to provide a device of the kind described which will givea distinctive signal when steam alone is being discharged rapidly through the overflow tube.

Apparatus embodying my invention is adapted to give a series of signals which resemble the signals` given by the apparatus shown and described in the aforementioned copending application, the signals being such that the operator of the automobile'or other vehicle is warned in advance of eminent wastage of cooling liquid because of overheating andk is also warned when such wastage is in progress.

Many `other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the artfrom the disclosure herein given.

To this end myinvention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed outin the claims. o l

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or `corresponding parts: r l

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section Ytaken through a device embodying my invention, the improved device being shown mounted upon-a filling tube of an automobile radiator;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-,2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; and v F ig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. i

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a device embodying a preferred form of the invention, the device being shown mounted upon the filling tube of a radiator which is of the type commonly employed in automobiles, or the like. Only a fragmentary portion of the radiator' is shown as the invention does not relate to the construction thereof. rThe radiator isv identified by the reference character 10 and the filling tube is shown at 12. In accordance with the usual construction, the radiator 10 is providedv with an overflow tube 14, the upper end of which is centrally disposed in the filling tube 12 and the lower'V end of which preferably communicates with the atmosphere. The upper end of the filling tube 12 is normally closed by a cap 15 which is preferably cast and is provided,r in this instance, with inserts 16 and 17. The insert 17 is preferably provided with a screw-thread 18v whereby the cap may be detachably secured to the filling tubeand the insert 16 is preferably provided ,with screw-threads 19 for a purpose which will presently appear. i Formed in the cap 15 is a substantially central aperture 22 which is enlarged atits lower endfas indicated at 23 to provide an annular,

shoulder 24 against which a packing ring 25 is adapted to seat. Projecting through the aperture 22 is a hollow member or dome 27 which is preferably formed from glass or other transparent material, the member 27 being open at its lower end and being provided with an annular iiange 29. Engaging the lower end of the glass member 27 is a packing ring 30 and disposed immediately below -the packing ring 30 is a washer 32 which is centrally apertured as at 37 to accommodate a tube l33. As best shown in Fig.y 1, the central ,portionl of the washer 32 isstruck up to provide-a relatively shallow annular pocket .39 adjacent the inner surfaces of the packing ring 30 and it willbe noted that the washer isv provided with apertures 40 through which iiuid may enter the glass member 27 and thence pass down through the tube 38vinto the overflow tube 14 which communicates with the lower end ofthe tube 38. The packing rings25 and 30, the fiange 29- of the glass member 27 and the washer 32 are secured in place in the enlarged portion 23 of the aperture 22 by a nut 42 whichengages the screwthreads 19 provided upon the insert 16.

A packing ring 44 seated upon the upper' end of the filling tube 19. supports the outer edge of a circular plate 45 which in turn, supports a spring washer 46, the spring washer 46 being inserted betweenthe plate 45 and the bottom surface of the cap 15. The plate 45 is provided with a central aperture 47 which accommodates the tube 38. Intermediate the outer edge of the plate 45 and the aperture 47, the plate is formed to provide an annular pocket 50. The plate is preferably provided with apertures 52 and 53 through which fluid may pass from the filling tube 12 up into the glass member 27 by way of the apertures 40 provided in the washer 32. Obviously, when steam or liquid passes up through the apertures 52, 53 and 40, some liquid will collect in the pockets 39 and 50.

The tube 38 fits snugly in the central aperture provided in the circular plate 45 so that the vibration of the vehicle does not tend to displace the tube relative to the plate. To prevent the tube 38 from being driven up into the glass member 27 an undesirable distance,l the tube is preferably provided with an outwardly extending annular bead 55 engageable with the under surface of the circular plate 45. It will be also noted that the lower end of the tube 38 is flared outwardly as at 56 so that the tube may be readily pushed over the end of the overflow tube 14. The construetion is such that the cap 15, the glass member 28 and the Washer 35 may removed as a unit from the filling tube 12 after which the spring Washer 46 and the circular plate 45, together with the tube 38, may be lifted from the upper end of the filling tube. After the supply of cooling liquid has been replenished, the circular plate 45 may be positioned again upon the packing ring 44 in such manner that the flared end 56 of the tube 38 will receive the upper end of the overflow tube 14. The cap 15, together with the glass member 27 and the washer' 32, may then be screw-threaded upon the filling tube, the spring washer 46 being inserted between the cap and the circular plate.

The operation of the above described indicating device is substantially as follows: Assuming that there is a plentiful supply of cooling liquid in the cooling system and that the automobile upon which the device is mounted, is in operation, there will be substantially no indication of any kind in the glass member 27 as long as the temperature of the cooling liquid does not approach the boiling point. However, if for any reason, the temperature of the coolingliquid approaches its boiling point, this fact will be indicated in the glass member 27 by a solid column of water which rises and falls irregularly and at times disappears from the glass member 27 until the cooling fluid boils with sufficient violence to create a high pressure within the radiator. Then a steady flow of liquid through the glass member 27 will be observed, this liquid being discharged from the cooling system by way of the overflow tube 14. If the driver of the automobile heeds the warning and corrects the condition which causes it, the boiling ceases and the ressure within the radiator falls. The liquid disappears from the glass member27 and returns to the radiator in an unbroken column. However, if the driver does not heed this warning and permits a relatively large amount of cooling liquid to waste through the overflow tube 14, a mixture of steam andliquid will be observed in the glass member 27, the liquid and steam churning in such manner that they are readily ob-` Asset forth in my aforementioned copending application, the improved device indicates four definite and significant stages through which the cooling fluid passes and it is is imperative that the driver corrects the abnormal condition under which the engine is operating before the fourth stage has obtained for any appreciable length of time for otherwise serious damage will be done to the engine. The four stages are as follows:

The first stage: from atmospheric temperature to normal operating temperature. During this stage, the glass member' remains substantially clear.

The second stage: from normal operating tempeiature to simmering temperature which precedes active boiling. An unbroken column of liquid will rise and fall in the elass member 27.

The third stage: from simmering temperatuie creating comparatively slight pressure to active boiling which causes substantially continuous wastage of cooling liquid because of the comparatively high steam pressure created in the radiator. The glass member 27 becomes completely filled with an unbroken column of liquid flowing therethrough and wastes through theoverfiow tube 14.

The fourth stage: from active boiling and wasting from the still adequate reserve supply of cooling liquid to a comparatively super-heated steaming and wasting of a boiling liquid. When this condition obtains, the glass member 27 shows violent churning steam and water passing therethrough.

The signals given by the device embodying the present invention differ somewhat from the signals given by the device shown in `falls in the similar member provided in the ldevice shown in my copending application.

The washer 32 and the circular plate l5 serve as bevels and tend to retardthe wastage of cooling liquid or fluid through the overflow tube 14. This is advantageous in that in many instances, it is extremely desirable to conserve the supply of cooling liquid as it can not be readily replenished.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications inay be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention;A

hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to t-lie exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An indicating device of the kind described comprising an apertured closure member for the filling opening of an automobile radiator' provided with an overflow pipe,

a substantially transparent hollow member mounted on said closure member and ar ranged to communicate with the interior of said radiator, means whereby vapor and liquid may flow from said hollow member into said overflow pipe, and means forming a pocket for collecting condensate from said hollow member, said pocket being so posi-- mounted on said closure member and ar ranged to communicate with the interior of the radiator, means serving as a baffle to retard the flow of vapor and liquid from the interior of said radiator into ksaid hollow member, said baffle means having a. pocket formed therein to collect condensate from said hollow member, and means whereby vapor and liquid may be discharged from said hollow member into said overflow pipe.'

3. -An indicating device of the kind ldescribed comprising an apertured closure member for the filling opening of an automobile radiator provided with an overflow pipe, a substantially transparent hollow member mounted to be visible above said closure member and arranged to communicate with the interior of said radiator through said closure member, a tube concentrically disposed with u respect to said closure member and arranged to project into said hollow member, said tube being adapted to telescope upon the upper end of said overflow pipe and beingrv adapted to discharge fluid into said overflow pipe, and means disposed around said tube and arranged to retard the flow of fluid from theinterior of said radiator up into said hollow member.

4. An indicating device of the kind described comprising' an apertured closure member for the filling opening of an automobile radiator having an overflow pipe, a lsubstantially transparent hollow member mounted. on said closure member andarranged to communicate with the interiorof said radiator, a plate disposed below said hollow member and provided with a plurality'V of apertures including a central aperture, said plate serving as a baffle to retard the flow of vapor and liquid from said radiator into said hollow member, and a. tube projecting through said central aperture into said hol-1 low member, said tube being engageable with the upper end of the overflow pipe and being provided with means cooperating with said plate for preventing the tube from being projected an undesirable distance into fsa-id hollow member.

In testimony signed my name.

whereof, I have hereunto 

